Children’s of Minnesota has the largest high-risk neonatal referral center in the region. The combined bed capacity for the neonatal units on the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses that are staffed and managed by Children’s is 154 beds.

Neonatal care is a leading program at Children’s, called a cornerstone program. These are major programs meeting rigorous criteria for excellence, including clinical research, use of advanced technology, and evidence-based practice. The program encompasses four inpatient units: the Minneapolis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the St. Paul NICU, the Minneapolis Infant Care Center (ICC) and the Special Care Nursery at Abbott Northwestern Hospital (SCN).

Both Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU's) are a part of the comprehensive high-and low-risk perinatal programs that are provided in conjunction with Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis and United Hospital in St. Paul.

The neonatal service line is comprised of 22 neonatologists, 34 neonatal nurse practitioners, and over 400 nurses and support staff. Children's neonatologists provide on-site coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

	Program Staff
	Unit Profiles
	About the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (PDF)
	Research Report (PDF)

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Micro Preemies

Among the infants defined as very premature, Children’s neonatal team delivers some of the highest survival and lowest complication rates in the world. Very premature infants, sometimes referred to as “micro preemies,” are those who are born between 22 and 29 weeks gestation and frequently weigh less than 1,500 grams at birth.

	Researchers Find “Micro Preemie” Infant Outcomes Improve Over Long-term Due to Quality Improvement Collaborative
	Children’s NICU, Dr. Hoekstra’s micro preemie study, in local and national spotlight
	Video: Children’s NICU, Dr. Hoekstra’s micro preemie study, on Inside Edition
	Elissa's Story: A micro preemie miracle, all grown up
	Alicia’s Story: I was delivered four months early.
	Charlie’s Story: At 1-pound, 13-ounces, I was classified as a micro-preemie
	Jonathan’s Story: At birth, I weighed just over 2 pounds

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Clinical Services

Premature infants have many special needs that increase the level of care required. The services and treatments offered increase the chance of survival while reducing the risks of serious long-term complications. Services offered at Children’s include:

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Services Developmental assessment and therapy Developmental follow-up clinic Diagnostic testing ECMO Fetal diagnosis Hearing screenings High frequency oscillatory ventilation ICC Infant massage

Infant monitoring services Inhaled nitric oxide Lactation and infant feeding consultation Neonatal transport NICU (Minneapolis and St Paul) Parent to parent classes Patient / Family Education Psychosocial assessment, support, referral Resuscitation and stabilization Retinopathy screening SCN Surgical procedures

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Multimedia

Families in the NICU: View a 4-minute video of parents who have experienced Children's NICUs Play Video Children's – Minneapolis: View a 4-minute video to learn more about the unit and its services for families. Play Video

Children's - St. Paul: Take a 4-minute video tour of the private-room environment. Play Video